Thurston Co sheriff t-boned by suspected drunk driver; second time in 18 months

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Thurston County’s sheriff is walking with a limp after a suspected drunk driver struck his patrol car and took off.

He says it is more evidence of what he sees as an epidemic of dangerous driving on the state’s roads.

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders and his passenger suffered minor injuries in the crash.  Both will survive.

The driver was caught after she ditched her car.

Sanders is calling on the next governor to take action. The Thurston County sheriff says what happened to him is indicative of a statewide emergency of dangerous driving.

The Saturday night crash happened to him on Martin Way East and Hensley Street Northeast. The driver he says was drunk took off down Hensley.

“Saw a vehicle approaching,” said Sanders, “and all of a sudden it kind of veered almost into the oncoming lane.”

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders is walking a bit stiffly on this Sunday afternoon, hours after he and his passenger, another police officer looking for a job here, T-boned his unmarked patrol car. The driver, he says, was seriously impaired.

“I don’t think she even knew she hit a car,” he said. “She was pretty intoxicated when I walked by her after they captured her. I’m not sure she knew what state she was in.”

He says he could see the 29-year-old driver headed for his patrol car, so he swerved to avoid her, without success.  It left him and his passenger hurt, struggling for a bit to get their wits about them.

“And I look over and see the car’s taking off down Hensley Street. I’m like you can’t make it up. Can’t make it up.”

The bumper of her car had fallen off and was “dragging,” he said.

Just 18 months ago, Sanders was struck by a different alleged drunk driver.  That time he was knocked unconscious, and woke up in a bed at Harborview Medical Center.

He says these accidents are happening more often.

“I don’t want to make it seem like I’m a special victim,” he said, “because our deputies were just clearing up from a really bad DUI crash with injuries out in Yelm when they were coming to me. So, it’s just happening every night.”

He cites statistics that show deadly crashes in this state have risen every year since 2020 to more than 800 in 2023.

“I think the governor that comes in should declare an emergency on our roadways,” he insisted.

It’s that bad? he was asked. “I think it’s that bad, yeah,” he said.

The sheriff says that would free up some money to help do what he believes is imperative: hiring more police officers across the state.

As for the driver, she is being held without bail at the Thurston County Jail.  She should make her first court appearance on Monday afternoon.

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